Switch-stand.



J. W. THOMAS.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 14, 1913.

Patented Dec. '22, 1914,

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HE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTU'LITHCL, WASHING TON, n 1

ili liTl JOHN W. THOMAS, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.22,1914.

' Application filednpril 1a, 1913. Serial No, 760,909.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN W. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in switch stands, and one object of the invention is to provide means whereby the switch lever may be unlatched in the act of raising the same to operative position to throw the switch.

A further object is to provide a switch stand which will reliably lock the switch rails against accidental movement during the passage of a train.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and in order that said invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing,

in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved switch stand connected to the rails of a switch, said rails being in cross section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the upper portion of the switch stand in section. Fig. 3 is a broken detail elevation partly in section, of the switch lever and adjacent parts, said lever being locked in inoperative position. Fig. ft is a broken sectional view of the switch lever and adjacent parts, said lever being raised to operative position. Fig. 5 is a broken elevation partly in section of the lower portion of the switch-stand. Fig. 6 is a broken plan view partly in section, of certain gearing employed in carrying out the invention.

A, designates a pair of long cross-ties or head blocks, B the main line rails, and G the switch rails, all of which are of ordinary construction.

Referring now in detail to the construc tion of my improved switch, 1 designates a frame, the base of which is secured upon the two cross-ties A, as clearly shown on Fig. 2. By thus mounting the frame upon two ties instead of one, it is obvious that said frame will be held more reliably in upright position and thus insure the proper operation of the switch mechanism than if supported solely by one cross-tie. The upper portion of frame 1 has a horizontal table 2, substantially semi-circular in plan view and provided with notches 3 and l to receive a hand lever 5, whereby the switch mechanism is controlled.

6 designates an upright shaft journaled in frame 1 and provided at its upper end with the customary target 7 andat its lower end with a fixedly-mounted segmentalgear 8.

9 designates a connecting-bar secured near one end to the switch rails C, and having racleteeth 10 at its opposite end to intermesh with the segmental gear 8, which latter is protected from snow and debris by a housing 11 at the lower end of frame 1.

12 designates a crank arm fiXed at one end to shaft 6 at a point just above table 2. Said crank arm 12 has a large slot 13 extending longitudinally thereof toreceive a latch 1a and the upper portion of lever 5. Lever 5 and latch 14 are p-ivotally-connected to crank-arm 14, by pins 15 and 16, respectively. The free end of crank-arm 12 has an upturned stop 17, against which the upper end of lever 5 bears, as shown on Fig. 3,

when said lever is in inoperative position.

The upper end of lever 5 has a staple 18, adapted to pass through a slot in stop 17 and receive a padlock 19, whereby said lever is looked in inoperative position. Lever 5 may also be held in inoperative position by the latch, 14, as shown on Fig. 3., the free end of which is beveled as indicated at 20, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

21 designates a finger arranged in a groove 5 in lever 5, and pivotally-mounted upon pin 15. Finger 21 underlies the free end of latch 1%, when the same is lowered against lever 5, and. is controlled by a handle 22 through the intermediacy of a connecting rod 23. A spring 2i interposed betweenlever 5 and the handle 22 normally holds the parts in the position shown on Fig. 3, so that finger 21 has no tendency to throw the free end of latch 1 1 upward out of engagement with lever 5, until said handle is actuated by hand.

Operation: The switch is held in open position as shown on Fig. 2, by adjusting the lever 5 to enter notch 4i, and closed by throwing lever 5 over intonotch 3. After entering either of the notches, lever 5 is held reliably therein by latch 14 which is dropped into engagement with said lever as shown on Fig. 3. When the lever is to be thrown from one notch to the other to shift the position of the switch rails it is first swung to the horizontal position disclosed by Fig. 4 to bring its upper end down into engagement with the opposite sides of the slotted portion of crank arm 12. Preparatory to raising lever 5, the handle 22 is gripped and pressed toward lever 5 to throw latch is upward through the intermediacy of the connecting rod 23 and finger 21. Thus the operation of raising the lever 5 and the latch la is accomplished practically in one movement, and with one hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with the rails of a switch, a switch-stand consisting of a frame, a shaft journaled in said frame and operably-connected to the switch rails, a crank arm secured to said shaft, a lever pivotally-mounted on said crank arm and adapted when in inoperative position to interlock with the frame, a latch pivotallymounted on the crank arm and adapted to engage the lever to secure the same from accidental movement when in inoperative position, a finger pivotally-mounted on the lever and adapted to throw the latch to inoperative position so that the lever may be swung to operative position, and means to actuate said finger.

' 2. In combination with the rails and two cross ties of a switch, a switch-stand consisting of a frame mounted upon said cross ties, a shaft journaled in said frame and operably-connected to the switch rails, a lever to rotate said shaft and adapted when in inoperative position to interlock with the frame, a latch to engage said lever and secure the same from accidental movement when in inoperative position, a finger mounted on the lever to throw said latch to inoperative position so that the lever may be swung to operative position, a connecting rod for actuating said finger, and a handle mounted on the lever and operably-secured to said connecting rod to actuate the same.

3. In combination with the rails of a switch, a switch-stand consisting of a frame, a shaft journaled in said frame and operably-connected to the switch rails, a crank arm fixed to said shaft, a lever pivotallymounted on said crank arm to rotate the same and adapted when in inoperative position to interlock with the frame, a latch mounted on said crank arm and adapted to engage the lever to secure the same from accidental movement when in inoperative position, a finger mounted on the lever and adapted to throw the latch to inoperative position so that the lever may be swung to operative position, a connecting rod for actuating said finger, a handle mounted on the lever and operably-secured to said connecting rod to actuate the same, and resili ent means to normally hold said handle in inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

F. G. FISCHER, L. J. FISCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

